Android's fragmentation rumours

Reports that Google's Mobile Operating System Android is showing signs of fragmentation are rife. However, is fragmentation the wrong word?

I think it is. Device manufacturers and most importantly operators are yet to catch up with the idea of supporting a device throughout its lifetime. Traditionally you made a phone, put in it the shops, sold it and that was it.

However, now consumers are demanding support for these devices in the same way they get support for their PCs. So, whilst Google is releasing newer versions. All of a sudden handset manufacturers, like HTC, have ongoing work to do to integrate it and operators have to push the stuff out. But, where does the additional revenue to cover this come from?

As STB's and TV's enter this arena we will all have to be careful not to fall into the same trap.

Chris Foulds, Release Manager, ANT